Ivan Chan interviewed by A Plus Magazine (February 2020)

Over the years, Ivan Chan has seen what makes audit attractive yet tough – from technological developments impacting the nature of the work to greater accountability and scrutiny. The Practising Director at Mazars tells A Plus about his varied role and how he is constantly adapting.

Chan joined Mazars as an auditor immediately after graduating from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with a bachelor of business administration in accounting. “My career has been really very stable. I have worked with my fellow partners here for 20 years,” he says. It was this stability that attracted him to auditing in the first place, as well as the opportunity to interact with a variety of companies.

For those interested in going into auditing, Chan says they must be prepared to work hard due to the long hours they will have to put in during the peak season, while they must also be proactive about learning new things and studying new accounting and auditing standards when they come out. “If you are prepared to learn and work hard and gain experience, then audit will be very good for you,” he says.

In addition, he stresses that people must have an analytical mind. “You need to think about what the figures tell you and whether they make sense to you. You need common sense, as well as knowledge,” he says. Interpersonal skills, such as being able to communicate and negotiate, are also important, as well as being a good problem solver.

To read the full article, please download the pdf file below.

Credits: Interview by Nicky Burridge and photography by Calvin Sit (A Plus magazine, November 2018 issue)